Garrity makes $2m a year. The Magic have no cap room this offseason and are making the most with what they have. People whine and complain about salary dumping in the GARM forum - how the Rockets can't seem to do it, and so on. Orlando does it successfully and it usually works in terms of signing free agents. And if you think Gooden can't learn a lot from playing alongside Juwan Howard......well, I'll leave it at that. They'll play alongside each other in the frontcourt.
I'm kinda surprised Cuban didn't go harder after him. Good signing by the Magic. I'm not sure on his ability to play center (and if he's playing there, I can't wait to see what Yao Ming does to him ), but having 2 good inside scorers in Howard and Gooden definitely puts you ahead of the game in the East...especially with TMac only going to get better, and Reece Gaines will be good as well. The thing on Howard's contract was that it really was his market value- Riley was going to give him the same deal. PS- So this means you guys will let us have Antonio Daniels, right?
First of all, mfclark....great pickup for the Magic! Now they can really start to un-suck. And Minny loses out! YES! YES! Mfclark, How will they play Drew and Juwan together? Would you like a shot-blocker? Wouldja like Eddie and T-Mo for Drew?
Drew and Juwan will combine to play the center and power forward positions in the starting 5, with Howard likely playing at center. He did it in Dallas and played in a similar role as this with Nene in Denver last season, so it's not that much of a logistical challenge. That's why I don't get leebigez's post up there. They have similar playing styles, although Howard is a better scorer and Gooden a more athletic rebounder. Neither are great shotblockers, though we do have Steven Hunter for that purpose (and McGrady is a pretty good shotblocker himself). I'd imagine Howard will be called on for low-block scoring and Gooden for low-block rebounding. Howard will guard the better player on the defensive end (as he's likely to get better treatment from the refs), while Gooden will play off of that. Down the road, the roles will change as Gooden develops.
Ehhhh...it all depends on whether or not the Magic get the medical exception for Hill. A decision on that is expected by Wednesday. If they get it, the Magic still have another $5m they can spend - and a willingness to do so - so any point guard decisions will come down to the NBA's ruling on the medical exception. It likely means you all (or any other team) can't have Darrell Armstrong...especially if the exception is not granted.
